Ruling out any change in the BJP’s plans to hold the Parivarthana Yatra rally in Mysuru on January 25, senior party leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Monday questioned the need for observing a bandh in this region over the Mahadayi dispute.
Farmers’ groups and other outfits have called for a Statewide bandh on January 25 to pressurise the Centre to resolve the decades-old Mahadayi water-sharing dispute between Karnataka and Goa.
“We fully support the Mahadayi project. There is no need for a bandh (here). Bandh is only needed in the areas where people are suffering. What is the need for the bandh in Mysuru,” questioned Mr. Yeddyurappa while speaking to reporters in Mysuru on Monday. He said the BJP’s Parivarthana rally will surely be held on January 25. The rally in Mysuru has been billed by the BJP as a high-profile event to be attended by the party’s national president Amit Shah.
Mr. Yeddyurappa accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of creating confusion in society by encouraging the bandh, which implies the closure of schools and colleges.
While the BJP has been actively campaigning for a resolution to the Mahadayi dispute, Mr. Yeddyurappa said Mr. Siddaramaiah is sabotaging the project with his actions.
Though senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was in Goa, she did not restrain the Congress leaders of Goa, who were against the release of Mahadayi waters.
